Verbal abuse from drivers may scupper Speedwatch (From Warrington Guardian)

Verbal abuse from drivers may scupper Speedwatch

A CAMPAIGN to put the brakes on motorists is under threat, because volunteers have been subjected to abuse from speeding drivers.

Volunteers taking part in the Community Speedwatch campaign say that they are concerned about their safety after suffering verbal attacks from drivers caught speeding on camera.

Campaign coordinator Clr Graham Roughsedge, who was leading the scheme in Stockton Heath and Appleton, has resigned, citing a lack of support from Warrington Road Safety Partnership.

And residents who have volunteered for the scheme have grown wary after a driver and a passenger got out of a car in Appleton and verbally abused them.

They are unhappy that the borough council's road safety bosses have not yet been in touch with them since the incident.

Maureen Theobald, of Warrington Road Safety Partnership, said: "We are committed to supporting our volunteers, although we appreciate that at times this can prove difficult.

"We are doing our level best to help them as much as possible.

"Verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated and people should know that we will crack down hard on anyone who commits an offence in this manner.

"However, it is vital to have accurate details and information. All of our volunteers have been trained on the appropriate course of action to take in these cases and we operate a strict reporting policy."

The initiative, launched by the police and the borough council, was taken up by parish councils in south Warrington in an attempt to slow down drivers.

Clr Roughsedge said: "These people are giving up spare time because their area is unsafe because of speeding drivers."

He said that the Speedwatch operation was proving successful in slowing down drivers, particularly on rat-runs such as Longwood Road in Appleton.

And he added that contrary to popular opinion, the main offenders were mothers driving their children to and from school.